Zoro works hard to preserve its startup culture

While many booming young firms are looking to expand their offices in cool shops in the West Loop or Fulton Market, Zoro is content to remain where it is. But what it lacks in a trendy location it makes up for in amenities.

While many booming young firms are looking to expand their offices in cool shops in the West Loop or Fulton Market, Zoro is content to remain where it is. But what it lacks in a trendy location it makes up for in amenities.

It's not everywhere the boss gives away meat at the weekly staff meeting.

But at Zoro, an online seller of industrial supplies, President Seth Erickson figured adding a spin-the-wheel-for-the-meat game would bring some excitement to the company's weekly powwows.

Each Thursday morning, employees file into a large conference room and before they get down to business, two to three workers are chosen to spin the wooden wheel for the week's offering. Sometimes it's beef. Other times it's a whole turkey or a slab of ribs.

The game always has a "mystery meat" up for grabs, usually something less appetizing, such as canned sardines, that the loser can eat to claim all of the winnings.

"I thought it was weird and fun and people would like it," said Erickson, who dreamed up the contest as a means to replace his weekly barbecues when staff grew too large to pull them off easily. "People are into it."

But the "Wheel of Meat," as it's known among staffers, isn't the only reason Zoro, a W.W. Grainger subsidiary, was ranked No. 26 among small companies in the Tribune's list of Top Workplaces, as measured by Exton, Pa.-based consultancy WorkplaceDynamics.

John Konstantaras / Chicago Tribune

Karrie Wright, strategic initiatives manager for Zoro Canada with the Happy Anniversary Fox on her desk in the office of Zoro, October 6, 2016.

Karrie Wright, strategic initiatives manager for Zoro Canada with the Happy Anniversary Fox on her desk in the office of Zoro, October 6, 2016.

(John Konstantaras / Chicago Tribune)

It's one of several perks for Zoro's staff of 190, most of whom work in Buffalo Grove, a unique location for a growing e-commerce firm. While many booming young firms look to expand their offices in hip Chicago neighborhoods, Erickson said Zoro is content where it is. But what it lacks in a trendy location it makes up for in amenities.

There's a soundproof guitar room where taking lessons during work breaks is encouraged. A warehouse is used as a playroom for staffers, complete with badminton court, pingpong table and foosball.

A library has soft chairs and ottomans. There's a fridge stocked with free soda and sparkling water.

The company, which has been likened to the Amazon of tools, manufacturing and industrial supplies, janitorial products and other products for small businesses, was born out of a need for behemoth Grainger to be faster and more nimble for up-and-coming businesses. Zoro has incorporated that vision into how it treats its employees.

Workers describe Zoro as fast-paced yet flexible.

The executives "are always willing to explain strategy to you," said accounting manager Chris Fox. "At a previous job, there was a hierarchy and limits where people could go. I was sick of just being a part of the process."

Added Gopal Balakrishnan, IT project manager, "The culture of inclusion regardless of anything is embraced, not just tolerated."

Erickson himself sifts through suggestions placed in a box at the weekly staff meetings. It's how a mouthwash dispenser appeared in the bathrooms and an annual golf outing, suggested by Fox, was created.

John Konstantaras / Chicago Tribune

The warehouse area is set up for employees to relax and play a few games in the office of Zoro on October 6, 2016.

The warehouse area is set up for employees to relax and play a few games in the office of Zoro on October 6, 2016.

(John Konstantaras / Chicago Tribune)

"It's a laid-back atmosphere," said office manager Amy Rodriguez. "You don't feel like you have to go through 15 channels to get something accomplished, you can have a real conversation and not feel like you're going to be judged."

Megaphones top many desks — used to give shout-outs to colleagues for a job well-done. Erickson said he borrowed these ideas from some of the best places he worked throughout his career.

"Most of our folks are pretty young, so it's not hard for me to remember what it was like when I was in my mid-20s," he said. "It's about being professional and not taking yourself seriously, but taking your work seriously."

Erickson said in-person conversations are encouraged, and he tries to get together with staffers in small groups every few months.

We are encouraged to explore opportunities and projects we care about, in and out of the workplace.— Survey comment from Zoro employee

But keeping the familial, startup culture going is difficult since the company's staff has grown nearly tenfold from its founding five years ago. This year, the company expects to hire 75 more employees and revenues are expected to hit $435 million.

"I wanted to make it a nice environment to draw people here," he said. "I wanted people to feel good about the physical environment where we're working."

To answer the question of what makes a good workplace, the Chicago Tribune went to the people who would know the best: the employees. Learn more >>